How to Improve Your Golf Swing & Lower Your Score

An on-plane golf swing

For lower scores, focus your practice on accuracy, rather than distance, starting with your aim and alignment. The biggest in-swing factors affecting the direction the ball travels are the path the club travels and the swing plane, or the inclined circular plane, along which your golf club travels as you swing. To swing the club on the correct path and plane, aim the club and your body correctly. As your swing improves, learn the distance you hit each club so you can choose the proper weapon for each shot.

Things You'll Need

• 2 yardsticks
• Practice golf balls
• 2 fiberglass driveway stakes, 1/4 inch by 48 inches

Instructions

Aim/Alignment

1. Pick a target. Visualize an imaginary line from the target to the ball. This line is your target line.

2. Align your feet, hips and shoulders along an imaginary line that is parallel to the target line.

3. Aim the face of your club so that the score lines are perpendicular (form a "T") to the target line.

Swing Toward the Target

1. Place two yardsticks on either side of the golf ball, parallel to the target line and creating a 8-inch-wide pathway toward the target.

2. Swing the club through the pathway about a dozen times without a golf ball, brushing the grass without hitting the yardsticks.

3. Center a golf ball in the pathway between the yardsticks. Swing the club as you did with the practice swings, through the pathway without hitting the yardsticks.

4. Practice hitting balls in this manner until you can consistently hit the balls without hitting the yardsticks.

Swing on Plane

1. Insert a fiberglass driveway stake into the ground about 2 feet from each hip and about 6 inches from your target line, angled away from that line. The stakes should be on the same angle as the shaft of your golf club. So if your club is on a 45-degree angle with the ground, insert the stakes at a 45-degree angle. As you address the ball, you'll have a stake on your right and one on your left.

2. Make practice swings, keeping the club in front of the stakes. If you swing the club too far inside on either backswing or follow-through, you'll hit the stakes. Continue to make practice swings until you feel comfortable swinging with the stakes as guides.

3. Practice hitting golf balls with the stakes in place. When you can consistently hit the balls without hitting the stakes, move to a spot without the stakes and hit five balls. Return to the stakes and hit five balls to reinforce the proper swing plane. Continue practicing this drill until you feel comfortable and can hit the ball consistently without the stakes.

Tips & Warnings

• The best way to ensure you are on the right path to an improved golf swing is to take a lesson with a PGA or LPGA professional. The golf pro will help you set up a program for improvement.

References

• PGA Teaching Manual; Gary Wiren; 1990
• PGA: Fundamentals--Swing Plane

Resources

• J.Thomas: Driveway Stakes
• PGA: Three "Musts" for a Smooth Takeaway